Authors: Christopher C. Payne
“Why did you choke me in the hospital?” Stefani asked. “Why did you try to kill me if you’re supposed to be protecting me, helping me, saving me?”
Dennis smiled, “I didn’t try to kill you. I saw something in your eyes. I couldn’t figure out what it was, but I tried to look past your flesh and into your soul. The only way I could do that was by connecting with you, by grabbing you. But I did it too quickly. Matt should’ve known this. Maybe he did and just used it as an excuse.
“I don’t know, but please know this. I’ll never hurt you. My entire existence on this planet is to protect you. I would die for you if I had to.”
Stefani felt unsure how to respond. She didn’t trust anyone anymore. She didn’t believe anything, but at the moment Dennis was the only one here, and he was the only one she had seen on separate occasions actually try to keep her out of harm’s way.
“How did the dogs not kill you when we were in Bath? How did you survive?” Stefani asked.
“I was lucky. I wasn’t their intended target. As soon as you escaped and Hector was dead, they left. I laid there for the rest of the day and well into the night. It was all I could do to heal myself. I’m still not sure I can fly. But as soon as I could walk, I stole a car and followed you to Italy.
“Killing Roberto will hamper Greg. I don’t think he expected that, and Greg is always a few steps ahead of everything. He’s always been able to anticipate what people will do and the choices they will make. It’s one of his gifts.
“Greg has many abilities, and he uses them all for one purpose. His only goal in life is to gain the power that you will soon possess. If he does, then all our lives will be meaningless.
“Even though Greg’s abilities are vast, they’ve clouded his mind, and he is losing control of what he once was.”
“Why, yes, my powers are extraordinary. An odd set of circumstances changed my life, but my abilities are truly exceptional. How is our happy couple, by the way?” Greg said as he pulled up a chair and sat down next to Stefani.
“Now, you don’t mind if I join you, do you?”
Dennis scooted his seat back, attempting to get up. But before he could even move, a pair of hands grabbed his shoulders and pushed him down. There were four men by the front door and two others standing in the kitchen. Another man stood behind Dennis, and an eighth hovered behind Stefani. Dennis smelled some of them, and he knew they weren’t all Roguls; some were gargoyles. They didn’t stand a chance of escaping. He rested back in his chair and put his hands back on the table.
“What is it you would like from us?” Dennis asked.
“Perhaps you would be better served by a demonstration,” Greg responded. “You see, little brother, you and I have to settle some things. You’re really starting to get in my way.”
Greg’s arm flew up in the air, then he slammed down a knife, cutting through the table and pinning Dennis’ hand in the process. The knife sliced through several bones, and Dennis screamed out in pain.
“JESUS, what is wrong with you?” Dennis screamed.
Stefani just sat, staring, unsure what to do. Everyone seemed intent on killing each other. At one point in time, all Stefani could think about was killing Greg. Actually killing him had been her focus most of her life. The desire had intensified recently, but she was too tired now.
“Just tell me what you want me to do,.” Stefani said, looking at Greg. “Just tell me how it all works. Do you want the ring?”
She ripped the necklace from around her neck and slammed it on the table. Everyone’s eyes seemed transfixed. The ring glowed. It inhaled the light from the room, and the longer it sat there, the brighter it grew.
“Put it away, you idiot. Don’t you understand what it’s capable of? Put it away now!” Greg screamed.
But it was too late.
The man standing behind Dennis was a gargoyle, and he was the first to change. He was an elder, as well, and his transformation was fast. He flipped Dennis out of the way as his wings shot out of his shoulders.
“Stop, you imbecile!” Greg yelled. “I demand you stop!”
But the gargoyle couldn’t hear him. He reached for the ring just as another gargoyle from the front door completed his change. In that instant, the first gargoyle’s arm was severed from his body.
“The ring is mine!” the second gargoyle screamed as blood sprayed directly in Stefani’s face, drenching her hair and clothes in a shower of thick, sticky, dark red liquid.
Dennis ripped the knife from the table as he tore his hand free, leaving a gaping hole in the palm of his hand. The antique blade rattled to rest on the floor. He jumped across the table and brought Stefani crashing to the floor moments after she had wrapped her hand around the ring.
As they rolled to a stop, a third gargoyle completed his change and flew over their heads. He landed on the table, and it splintered into pieces under his weight. The second gargoyle sliced his sword through the air, severing the first gargoyle’s head and pulling out his heart in one frenzied motion. The first gargoyle teetered and fell to the floor.
“HOLY SHIT, YOU HAVE TO STOP!” Greg screamed. “STOP, I DEMAND IT!”
But his words fell on deaf ears.
The rest of the crew were Rogul slaves. As the gargoyles continued their frenzied struggle, the Roguls fled to the security of the waiting cars outside the restaurant. They’d seen far too many friends die at the hands of these lunatics to stick around. They had desires of their own; and if this insanity continued, they knew they’d be next on the chopping block.
Greg attempted to grab the sword-wielding gargoyle, but he overshot his goal. Greg’s error left an opening for the gargoyle to plunge his weapon into the third gargoyle’s chest. He slithered on the ground for a moment as the second gargoyle twisted the blade in his chest. Within seconds, the third gargoyle lost his head.
“Sean, you have to stop!” Greg screamed again. “Sean, let it go, snap out of it!”
Greg had his weapon drawn; and if Sean made one more move, Greg would have no choice but to kill him, as well. Sean might have been a lifelong friend, but they had come too far to lose everything due to a lack of self-control.
Dennis grabbed Stefani by her arm and dragged her out the back door, fleeing with the Roguls while the fight ensued. Dennis spotted an empty car with keys dangling in the ignition. It likely belonged to one of the dead gargoyles inside. He jumped in the front seat, shoved Stefani over to the passenger side, and turned the key.
Not wasting time, he hit the gas and shot out of the parking lot. Bits of asphalt flew into the air as the rear tires squealed in protest. He plowed forward to Van Nuys, heading south, throwing the car on two wheels as he hit the ramp for 101South. He wanted to put as much distance between them and Greg as he could. Greg wouldn’t remain distracted for long.
Sean breathed hard, but he stood still. His arm dangled at his side as his friends’ blood dripped from the sword’s blade.
“Sean, breathe, dude. You can do it. Catch your breath, and relax. It’s gone now. Just relax,”
Greg coaxed Sean until he finally dropped the sword, letting it clatter to a resting spot on the floor below.
“Now we need to catch them, Sean. We have to go after them, but you can’t lose control again. Do you understand me? DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME, SEAN?!” Greg screamed.
“Yes, yes, holy shit, I don’t know what happened. What was that? What did I do?” Sean asked, suddenly waking from the trance.
“It’s the ring, Sean. It’s waking. It’s almost time, and she’s not yet ready. We must get her back. If we are to succeed, the plan must stay on track. Dennis must die tonight.”
Dennis floored the gas pedal again, and the car approached 100 miles per hour. He flew around other vehicles and swept in all directions at once. He hoped they could get out of range before it was too late. He knew their only chance was distance. Now that everyone had their scent, they were easy prey.
“Holy crap, slow down!” Stefani screamed as she finally shoved her seat belt into place. “Are you trying to kill us so they don’t have a chance to? This is crazy.”
Dennis didn’t bother responding. They passed the old Candlestick Park, but he couldn’t remember what the new name of it was anymore. Some corporate conglomerate had bought and labeled it. Everything in the world was going to Hell it seemed. That’s when the car’s roof crashed down on top of them.
Sean had spotted them easily. Once he had regained control of his senses, he quickly took off and effortlessly chased them down. Greg would follow behind him within minutes. He slammed into the roof with his feet, smashing the metal like paper. He heard Stefani scream.
The car buckled in half. It skidded for a few feet before flipping over and rolling like a match box toy out of control. It launched beyond the protective railing to the ground several feet below the freeway. There were no other vehicles on the road.
Sean wondered to himself if they had on their seat belts. He got his answer as Dennis flew from the driver’s side doorway, skidding head first on the pavement just as a truck turned the curve. There was no way the massive vehicle was going to stop in time. The wheels screeched, and the grill leveled Dennis’ body to the pavement.
Gargoyles might be able to take a punch, but that’s an extreme test,
Sean thought to himself. He flew over to the spot where the car had finally stopped. He tore open the passenger door and grabbed Stefani by her arms. He yanked her out. He couldn’t look at the necklace dangling from her neck. He wasn’t going to risk losing control again.
Sean looked up in time to see a shadow pass overhead, and Greg swooped down to scrape Dennis’ crumpled body off the pavement. If Dennis were still alive, he was going to have a severe headache when they got him back to the office building. They had to keep him alive though. The plan called for Stefani to see him die. For some reason, Greg said she had to witness his death.
Stefani’s head felt like a freight train had run her down, crushing her skull. She had experienced severe pain before, but she’d never felt like this. Her eyes opened, and she focused on her surroundings. It was an office building, and there were windows everywhere.
God, I’m in Greg’s office building
, she thought to herself. She realized he was waving smelling salts under her nose, rousing her from her trauma-induced slumber.
“You’re quite the troublesome young lady, aren’t you? Every single time I think I have the situation pegged with you, I seem to be surprised. Why do you think that is? Could it be because you’re a woman, and women just can’t ever figure out how to follow the rules?” Greg laughed.
“Women never have been much use in society. I remember when women knew their place. They stayed home and took care of the children and their husbands. If women weren’t useful for breeding, I’m not sure I’d even keep your kind around. We’ll have to see how things go when I conquer this God-forsaken planet.”
Stefani had her bearings now. She was tied up against one of the glass walls in Greg’s office. She was shackled, really, with metal bands around both wrists. Her arms were spread out with her hands hanging from two pegs lodged into the top of the framing. He really did like hanging her up by her wrists, didn’t he?
“How many times are you going to tie me up, big boy? I think at some point you’ll be in need of a spanking,” she laughed. She wouldn’t ever waste time spanking Greg. He deserved nothing more than a long, painful, torturous death.
“It pleases me that you’re in such a good mood. I would hate for you not to miss the show. Sean, wheel in our next contestant, please,” Greg said excitedly.
It took a second for the image to come into Stefani’s field of vision, but she finally saw Dennis, strapped to a metal table, his arms by his side and his feet slightly spread. He had blood everywhere, and his clothes were barely strips of rags. He looked like he had just been pureed.
Then, Stefani remembered the car careening out of control. Something had landed on the roof, causing them to spin and flip. Dennis hadn’t put on his seatbelt, so he must’ve been thrown from the vehicle. But he was a gargoyle, right? One of the benefits of being a gargoyle is jumping back to your feet after being through an accident like this. Stefani was already feeling her strength coming back.
Sean rolled the table directly in front of Stefani, right underneath her nose. Her body was within a foot of the surface, and she saw that Dennis was coming out of his stupor. He was still well beyond being able to walk.
He really must have taken an incredible beating during the accident
, Stefani thought.
“No matter what happens, remember, you’re the key. Not me, not anyone else. You’re the key. You’ll know what to do when the time is…” Greg slapped his hand over Dennis’ mouth, cutting off his speech.
“Will you please shut the hell up? I‘m so sick of the shit spewing from your mouth. Actually…”
Without even finishing the thought, Greg lifted his knife and plunged it directly through Dennis’ forehead.
Dennis wailed out in pain, screaming as the knife remained lodged in his skull. It stuck out like a newfound appendage.
“You see, my dear, just because gargoyles hold a unique ability to survive several generations, it doesn’t mean they are immune to pain. Poor Dennis here seems to be suffering, and you alone hold the key to letting him survive. How does it feel to be that powerful, to have that much control?”
“Please stop!” Stefani yelled. “Please, dear God, please. I’ll do whatever you want. I said that before. Please, just stop. Please.”
Her voice trailed off as she lost her energy. She couldn’t stand this. She couldn’t endure watching Dennis suffer. It wasn’t fair.
Her eyes grew tired, and Greg stepped over, wafting the smelling salts in her nose again. Then, he shoved them directly up one of Stefani’s nostrils.
“You’ll remain awake for this, you little wench.”
He spat out the words, and saliva sprayed from his mouth, shooting in the direction of Stefani’s ear. “This is my brother. Just think about what I’ll do with you.”
Before he finished the words, Sean slammed his sword down, severing Dennis’s legs at the knees. One of them rolled off the table to the floor. Dennis cried out in pain again, begging Greg to just kill him.
“Please, just do it. Do it now. Finish me, you freak,” Dennis whispered, barely able to speak. He was so weak, but the pain kept him aware of what happened around him. He really did want to die. He had no idea this much pain could possibly exist in life. Maybe in death he would finally find peace.
Stefani sobbed uncontrollably. She could no longer focus; but Greg grabbed her chin, twisted her head toward Dennis, and forced her to watch as he squirmed in agonizing pain.
“Keep your eyes directed over here sweetie. The best is yet to come.”
As Greg fell silent, Sean circled around and brought his sword home, lopping off Dennis’ head. It flipped off the table and rolled several feet, coming to rest half way between the restrooms and the door to Greg’s office. Sean knew things were complete when he slammed his sword down, and Dennis’ heart took its final beat.
“You could have helped him, honey,” Greg cooed. “Dennis would still be alive if you had have just cooperated. All you had to do was follow the rules. Keep to the script. We don’t like ad-libbing around here do we, Sean?”
Greg laughed.
“My little brother. It really is too bad. He was a good kid. Funny, how you didn’t even trust him. He was probably the one person around here you could have and should have had faith in. Sadly, now he’s gone. What would you like to do next, Stefani? Stefani? Hello. Cat got your tongue?”
Greg cackled again.
Stefani hung from her chains, not moving, as tears flowed down her cheeks. But she wasn’t sure she was crying. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore. There wasn’t much doubt in her mind now that Dennis was no longer with her. He’d been the only one who could’ve saved her. Even Matt, who’d been her companion, hadn’t divulged he was a gargoyle.
At that thought she cried louder. She wanted it all to end. How could she make it end?